Attention Shifts To Fall Of Husband Of News Reader Who Wanted ‘Ruby’ To Hit Japan

ABC-CBN chose to ignore the social media storm created by the remarks of its news reader Korina Sanchez that Super Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) would hopefully only batter Japan and spare the Philippines. The comment even spawned a hoax report that Japan has declared her a persona non grata.

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Now that Ruby has left the Philippines, the hubris created by Sanchez's careless remarks would likely die a slow death, thanks in part to the attention shifting to the husband of Sanchez, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who fell on a motorcycle while on the way to visit Dolores town in Eastern Samar to check the situation in the typhoon-ravaged municipality.

YouTube/George Lester

Roxas was not hurt by the fall and brushed off the ensuing social media comments as "non-issue" and sidestepped comments that he didn't wear a helmet.

"I don't care if I walk, take the motorcycle or ride a horse if that's the only way to reach that area. I did not think of the regulations (about the use of helmet) and my safety because my concern was to reach the people of Dolores," Inquirer quoted Roxas.

He even joked, "If I had wings, like what they say of Capiz natives like me, I would have flown to the area." Local folklore says that his native province has winged creatures called aswang.

But it is not only from his motor that the secretary fell but also in popularity surveys. On Tuesday also, Pulse Asia released its latest poll that Roxas and Vice President Jejomar Binay - who were rivals in 2010 for the VP post and will likely be rivals again for the presidential post in 2016 - suffered drops in their popularity among voters.

YouTube/ABS-CBN News

Political pundits again linked Roxas's fall to his plummeting popularity as VP. Already in sixth place, what made it worse for Sanchez's husband is that his percentage share more than halved from 13 percent to just 6 percent, making him the least popular among six potential presidential candidates on the list.

And not surprisingly, Twitter members noted that as well as linked Roxas's fortune with Filipinos' dislike for his wife.

Reus Ocreto sums it all up in his tweet which reads: "Mar Roxas fall from the motorcycle (made in Japan maybe) looks like a big omen for his political career since he fell also in PulseaAsia."

Maxell, on the other hand, chided Roxas for stating he is above the law. Maxwell tweeted: "'Walang bawal-bawal sa akin' meaning he can violate the law at will like riding a motorcycle without helmet."

Lorenz, not surprisingly linked the fate of the Roxas couple as he repeated Sanchez's infamous line and added, "Karma is digital."

The bad news hasn't ended for Sanchez because a Filipino comedian from a rival station chose to fan the flame by tweeting: "Dun sa mga umaasa na lumihis ang bagyo at dumiretso na lang sa Japan eh WAG NAMAN. Eh pwede naming HUMINA na lang katulad ng utak nung umasa!" (For those who hope that the typhoon would change course and hit Japan instead, don't make such a wish. Rather wish that it would weaken as it had dulled the brains of the one who hoped it would).

Although Joey de Leon, the comedian, TV host and author of that tweet, didn't identify her, netizens knew it was Sanchez he was referring to because of the social media storm created by her loose talk.

He then followed it with another tweet with reference to newscasting, saying "JAPAN now is not just 'Just Always Pray At Night'. Dapat din daw ay (It should also be) 'Just Always Pray and Newsread!'"

For his naughty tweet, Fernand Arevalreanta chided de Leon, saying, "di ko gusto and tweet nitong c Joey De Leon e, nag silbing gatong pa sa kontrobersiya sa komento ng newscaster na c Korina Sanchez." (I didn't like what Joey De Leon tweeted because it only fueled further the controversy caused by the comment of newscaster Korina Sanchez.)

Instead of adding fire to the controversy, Fr. Jose Tabora of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines tweeted, "I apologize to Japan for the insensitivity of the remarks made by broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez."

In defense of Sanchez, Jake Andaya wrote: "Do good things, people easily forget. Do one band thing, people easily remember. Hays. Ganun na ba talaga ang mga tao ngayon?" (Have people really become like that nowadays?). He added, "PS: I got your back, Ms. Korina. I am not also perfect, so who am I to judge? God knows how a good person you are. Malalampasan mo rin po yan! (You will also overcome this [trial]!)."

However, those who dislike Korina appears to be in bigger number based on the following tweets:

"Unsolicited PR tip for Korina Sanchez - Apologize for the gaffe now and make sure it's sincere. Who does she think she is, Cosby?" - Jim Ayson

"Things that need to the suspended: 1. classes in manila 2. korina sanchez." - Aegon VI

"Gag order on Korina Sanchez's mouth, please. And a restraining order on her brain while we're at it." - The Usual Bern

"I was kind hoping that the Korina Sanchez thing was a joke but damn. Such an insensitive comment from an almost First Lady." - Alexandra Erika.

The last tweet appears to explain why Roxas' popularity keeps on falling like his epic motorcycle ride.